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Czech Billionaire Wants to Help Ukraine Produce More Ammunition. 

Bloomberg) -- One of Europe’s biggest arms manufacturers is offering to help Ukraine ramp up its own production of heavy ammunition as the country struggles to repel the Russian invasion amid dwindling western aid.

Czechoslovak Group AS would like to invest “hundreds of millions of euros” in Ukraine, its billionaire owner and Chief Executive Officer Michal Strnad told reporters in Prague on Wednesday.
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/...ammunition

One of Europe’s biggest arms manufacturers is offering to help Ukraine ramp up its own production of heavy ammunition as the country struggles to repel the Russian invasion amid dwindling western aid. Czechoslovak Group AS would like to invest “hundreds of millions of euros” in Ukraine, its billionaire owner and Chief Executive Officer Michal Strnad told reporters in Prague on Wednesday.

CSG is in talks with state-owned arms group Ukroboronprom on a potential joint venture, and looking for suitable sites to make artillery and tank shells, as well as heavy equipment, he said.

With Ukraine running out of supplies and US aid stalled in Congress, European countries are trying to fill the gap with their own stockpiles as well as off-the-shelf purchases from outside the continent. CSG alone has increased production of large-caliber ammunition at its plants in Slovakia, Spain and Serbia more than 10-times since Russia’s 2022 full-scale invasion, according to Strnad.

“It’s not easy to manage such rapid growth,” said the 31-year-old, whose net worth is $2 billion, according to Forbes. “If we have an agreement, we would transfer our technology to Ukraine. That way we could use their capabilities and their people to ramp up production of artillery and tank ammo.”

Tapping Bondholders. Besides ammunition, CSG makes Tatra military and civilian trucks, armored vehicles and wheeled self-propelled howitzers, as well as modernizing Soviet-era T72 tanks for the Ukrainian army. To meet surging global demand, it is building new production halls in the Czech Republic, and it expects to complete a $1.9 billion acquisition of US-based Vista Outdoor Inc’s small-ammunition business next month.

CSG has so far relied primarily on loans from local banks, but after the Vista deal it seeks to refinance all its debt with a combination of syndicated loans as well as international bonds in euros and dollars, according to Strnad.

“After the closing of the Vista deal, we would like to refinance the whole group,” he said. “That’s what we’re working on.”

Europe’s East Is Losing Faith in Its West Over Arming Ukraine Ukraine Says It Got Only Third of Artillery Shells Pledged by EU.

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Satellite Data Reveals At Least Six russian Su-34 Fighter Jets Did Not Return. Monitoring of russian Su-34 bases' locations has revealed that, over the last two weeks of February 2024, at least six aircraft of this type did not return to their airbases

This fact could indeed serve as confirmation, based on open sources, of recent losses in russian aviation. 

As downed russian aircraft usually crash onto enemy territory, visually verifying the destruction of a specific enemy aircraft is often difficult. The OSINT researchers of the Dnipro resource wrote about this on their Telegram channel. 

In their publication, researchers highlighted the decline in the number of russian combat aviation sorties aimed at supporting their troops on the front lines serves as the most compelling evidence of the effectiveness of Ukrainian anti-aircraft gunners. In February 2024 alone, they successfully downed a total of 15 enemy aircraft, notably including 11 Su-34s. Even if visually only two such episodes were recorded.

Thanks to satellite image monitoring, we can see that between February 17 and March 2, 2024, at least one Su-34 did not return to the Primorsko-Akhtarsk air base (Krasnodar Krai, russia), presumably shot down near the temporarily occupied Mariupol. 

Interestingly, aircraft of this type were not based at this airfield before full-scale invasion from the russian federation.

At Krymsk air base, picture looks even more interesting – at least four Su-34s did not return to this airfield, and aircraft of this type began to be based here only after the start of the full-scale war.

The situation at Morozovsk air base is particularly interesting; it is the regular base for the 559th bomber aviation regiment of the russian Aerospace Forces, equipped with Su-34s. 

Here, the images show the loss of at least one Su-34, although most of the aircraft that are supposed to be at this airfield are visible in the images.

Also, an interesting point is that from the Khanskaya air base, the invaders had to relocate closer to the front line about eight Su-34 aircraft, presumably to cover the losses suffered earlier.
https://en.defence-ua.com/events/satelli...-9749.html

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Pope saying Ukrainian folks should have 'courage of the white flag' of negotiations.March 9 (Reuters). Pope Francis has said in an interview that Ukraine should have what he called the courage of the "white flag" and negotiate an end to the war with Russia that followed Moscow's full-scale invasion two years ago and that has killed tens of thousands.
Francis made his comments in an interview recorded last month with Swiss broadcaster RSI, well before Friday's latest offer by Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan to host a summit between Ukraine and Russia to end the war.

Erdogan made the fresh offer after a meeting in Istanbul with his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskiy. Zelenskiy has said while he wants peace he will not give up any territory.

The Ukrainian leader's own peace plan calls for the withdrawal of Russian troops from all of Ukraine and the restoration of its state borders. The Kremlin has ruled out engaging in peace talks on terms set by Kyiv.

A spokesman for Zelenskiy did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the pope's remarks.

(Can ask Pope to lose 1/2 for his land 1st in Rome)

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Exclusive: US prepared ‘rigorously’ for potential Russian nuclear strike in Ukraine in late 2022, officials say.

In late 2022, the US began “preparing rigorously” for Russia potentially striking Ukraine with a nuclear weapon, in what would have been the first nuclear attack in war since the US dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki nearly eighty years before, two senior administration officials told CNN.

The Biden administration was specifically concerned Russia might use a tactical or battlefield nuclear weapon, the officials said.

I first reported US officials were worried about Russia using a tactical nuclear weapon in 2022, but in my new book, “The Return of Great Powers” publishing on March 12, I reveal exclusive details on the unprecedented level of contingency planning carried out as senior members.

Biden administration became increasingly alarmed by the situation.
https://www.cnn.com/2024/03/09/politics/...index.html

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German officials hold secret talks with India on purchase of artillery shells for Ukraine. German publication Spiegel reported on this possibility of purchasing ammunition through intermediaries is being considered.

According to newspaper’s sources, India has several hundred thousand artillery munitions in storage. However, Indian govt is reluctant to openly sell its missiles b'cos Delhi still maintains friendly relations with Moscow. Therefore, covert negotiations are underway on how to obtain ammunition through intermediaries. It's possible such agreements are possible with Arab countries, some of which have large reserves.

To experts interviewed by journalists the German edition, there are states in Balkans & Africa have stockpiles of shells &can produce ammunition Ukraine needs. Recently, German govt approved €1.13 billion military aid & aid package will include 36 self-propelled tracked & wheeled howitzers, air defense systems and ammunition.

As German govt approved €1.13-bil military aid, 36 self-propelled tracked wheeled howitzers, air defense systems with ammunition for the Ukraine army to defence their territory against Russia federation.
https://mil.in.ua/en/news/spiegel-german...r-ukraine/

Is Europe doing enough to help against Russia?

When the widow of the Russian dissident Alexei Navalny addressed the European Parliament recently, she said something striking. "If you really want to defeat Putin, you have to become an innovator," Yulia Navalnaya told MEPs. "And you have to stop being boring."

Being innovative and interesting may be traits not always associated with some European politicians.

But they are having to think differently, not just about how better to support Ukraine but also to increase pressure on Russia.

The shadow of a potential Donald Trump presidency hangs over the continent, raising doubts about America's long-term backing for Ukraine.

A $60bn (£47bn) package of US military support for Ukraine is held up in the House of Representatives. And on the battlefield, Russian forces are beginning to make gains against their less well armed opponents.

In January European Union agreed in January, €50bn package ($55bn; £43bn) of grants loans to fund Ukraine's govt and public services. But the EU failed to meet its target of sending one million shells to Ukraine by the beginning of this month..EU diplomats are still haggling over plans for a new €5bn top-up to the European Peace Facility to buy more weapons for Kyiv. And Nato says that this year about 12 European members may still not meet the alliance's target of spending 2% of national output on defence.

More weapons
With the diplomatic and military balance is shifting, Europe is having to think creatively about how to support Ukraine and deter future Russian aggression. There are existing stocks of ammunition and weapons Europe could give to Ukraine.

UK Foreign Secretary David Cameron told the House of Lords this week that instead of decommissioning weapons systems at great expense once they technically pass their expiry dates, allies should give them to Ukraine. He also said countries in Eastern Europe with "legacy Soviet ammunition" suitable for Ukrainian weapons should release those stocks immediately.

Many allies believe Taurus would give Ukraine the chance to strike deep behind Russian lines. But German Chancellor Olaf Scholz fears they could also be used against Russian cities and is resisting, fearing escalation. But, as throughout this war, European leaders are still agonising over what weapons to give Kyiv latest row is over Germany's Taurus missiles. These have range of about 300 miles (500km), more than the UK-supplied Storm Shadows being used by Ukraine.
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-68514995

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Ukraine war briefing: backlash continues over the pope’s ‘white flag’ gaffe

Ukraine speeds up construction of defences, UK intelligence says; Europe weapons imports double – what we know on day 747.

Ukrainian film 20 Days in Mariupol, which was shot inside the besieged port city during the assault by Russian forces, has won the best documentary Oscar at the Academy Awards in Los Angeles.

Volodymyr Zelenskiy has dismissed as “virtual mediation” from a distance Pope Francis’s call for talks under a “white flag” with Russia. Ukraine’s president made no direct reference to Francis or his comments but mentioned religious figures helping inside Ukraine. “They support us with prayer, with their discussion and with deeds. This is indeed what a church with the people is,” Zelenskiy said. “Not 2,500km away, somewhere, virtual mediation between someone who wants to live and someone who wants to destroy you.”

Francis was criticised.
He is saying Ukraine should (do this and do that)
have the courage of the “white flag” & negotiate an end to war with Russia. 

Some politicians and commentators in Europe reacted with anger for supportind after pontiff appeared to stay silent on Russia’s crimes. A aggressor in the invasion, which has killed tens of thousands, and placed the onus on Ukraine to make peace. Ukraine’s minister for foreign affairs, Dmytro Kuleba, wrote: “Our flag is a yellow and blue one. 

"WHY This old people like Pope's supported Russia flag by which he said (Ukraine folks) live, die & prevail when Putin go killing even his own soldiers and never raise any other flags.”

According to a UK defence intelligence update. This includes anti-tank dragon’s teeth and ditches, infantry trenches, minefields and fortified defensive positions. Update adds indicative of the “attritional character” of conflict, & attempts to breach “will highly likely be accompanied with high losses”.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/m...white-flag

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German officials hold secret talks with India on purchase of artillery shells for Ukraine. German publication Spiegel reported on this possibility of purchasing ammunition through intermediaries is being considered.

According to newspaper’s sources, India has several hundred thousand artillery munitions in storage. However, Indian govt is reluctant to openly sell its missiles b'cos Delhi still maintains friendly relations with Moscow. Therefore, covert negotiations are underway on how to obtain ammunition through intermediaries. It's possible such agreements are possible with Arab countries, some of which have large reserves.

To experts interviewed by journalists the German edition, there are states in Balkans & Africa have stockpiles of shells &can produce ammunition Ukraine needs. Recently, German govt approved €1.13 billion military aid & aid package will include 36 self-propelled tracked & wheeled howitzers, air defense systems and ammunition.

As German govt approved €1.13-bil military aid, 36 self-propelled tracked wheeled howitzers, air defense systems with ammunition for the Ukraine army to defence their territory against Russia federation.
https://mil.in.ua/en/news/spiegel-german...r-ukraine/

Ukraine war briefing: Russian advances stopped, says Zelenskiy – ‘we have recovered our situation in the east’. Ukrainian president tells French TV that status of the frontline is at its best in three months – what we know on day 748.

Russian troops’ advance in Ukraine “has been stopped”, according to Volodymyr Zelenskiy, with the situation along the front at its best in three months. Zelenskiy, in an interview with France’s BFM television, said Ukraine had improved its strategic position despite shortages of weaponry, but suggested the situation could change without new supplies.


It comes after Russia captured Avdiivka and then advanced into nearby villages. In the past week, Ukraine’s military has been saying that Russian forces are no longer advancing and Ukrainian troops have improved their position. Zelenskiy noted Ukrainian shootdowns of Russian warplanes and sinking of targets in the Black Sea. “We have recovered in our situation in the east.”

“We have had some difficulties because of shortages of artillery shells, an air blockade, Russian long range weapons and the great intensity of Russian drone attacks,” Zelenskiy added. Russian forces enjoyed superiority in terms of long range weapons, “an advance of 20km on us”. Kyiv’s forces had built up three lines of fortifications over more than 1,000km of territory.

Zelenskiy also said he believed a Russian missile strike in Odesa while he and the Greek prime minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, were visiting last week showed that Vladimir Putin had “taken leave of the real world … Was he aiming at me? That’s not what matters now. When you make a cruise missile strike a few hundred metres from a European leader, I think you have to be truly ill.”

The EU is pushing to fast-track to Ukraine €2bn-€3bn this year in profits from frozen Russian assets, the Financial Times has reported.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/m...n-the-east

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Hungary’s prime minister, Viktor Orbán, has said on Friday, Donald Trump told him how he would end war. “He says following: first of all, he will not give a penny in the Ukraine-Russia war,” Orban said. “If US do not give money, the Euro's alone will be able to finance this war too as war is not over yet. ”Trump’s team did not comment on Orban’s claims.Joe Biden, who campaign event in New Hampshire: Trump was with Viktor Orbán, who talked about democracy problem, telling how much he agreed with him.

Sweden’s flag was raised at Nato headquarters on Monday, cementing its place as the 32nd member – a development wholly due to Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Germany’s foreign minister, Annalena Baerbock, reportedly said she was open to a deal in which London supplies Ukraine with additional Storm Shadow missiles in exchange for Germany backfilling British long-range missile stocks. There is pressure on Germany to supply Ukraine with its Taurus missiles, which can strike further behind enemy lines than Storm Shadow.

Josep Borrell, the EU’s top diplomat, has called for Europe to boost its defence production. CNN has reported that Russia is producing about 250,000 artillery shells a month, or about 3 million a year, in contrast to the US and Europe, which together can generate about 1.2m annually for Ukraine, according to a senior European intelligence official.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov declined to comment on reports that Nikolai Yevmenov, the head of the Russian navy, had been replaced. The Izvestia newspaper said Alexander Moiseyev, previously commander of Russia’s northern fleet, had reportedly been appointed as acting navy chief.

Ukraine summoned the Vatican’s envoy to Kyiv after Pope Francis suggested Ukraine should consider raising “the white flag” against Russia. “Due to the statements of Pope Francis the Apostolic Nuncio was invited to the ministry of foreign affairs of Ukraine,” the ministry said, adding envoy, Visvaldas was told Kyiv was “disappointed with the words of the pontiff regarding the ‘white flag’.”

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Ukraine war briefing: Russian advances stopped, says Zelenskiy – ‘we have recovered our situation in the east’. Ukrainian president tells French TV that status of the frontline is at its best in three months – what we know on day 748.

Russian troops’ advance in Ukraine “has been stopped”, according to Volodymyr Zelenskiy, with the situation along the front at its best in three months. Zelenskiy, in an interview with France’s BFM television, said Ukraine had improved its strategic position despite shortages of weaponry, but suggested the situation could change without new supplies.

It comes after Russia captured Avdiivka and then advanced into nearby villages. In the past week, Ukraine’s military has been saying that Russian forces are no longer advancing and Ukrainian troops have improved their position. Zelenskiy noted Ukrainian shootdowns of Russian warplanes and sinking of targets in the Black Sea. “We have recovered in our situation in the east.”

“We have had some difficulties because of shortages of artillery shells, an air blockade, Russian long range weapons and the great intensity of Russian drone attacks,” Zelenskiy added. Russian forces enjoyed superiority in terms of long range weapons, “an advance of 20km on us”. Kyiv’s forces had built up three lines of fortifications over more than 1,000km of territory.

Zelenskiy also said he believed a Russian missile strike in Odesa while he and the Greek prime minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, were visiting last week showed that Vladimir Putin had “taken leave of the real world … (Was he (Putin's), this mad man aiming at me ? (Zelenskiy). That’s not what matters now. When you make a cruise missile strike a few hundred metres from a European leader, I think you have to be truly ill.”

(Last news from U.S. is sending US300 mil aid) 13/03/2024.

The EU is pushing to fast-track to Ukraine €2bn-€3bn this year in profits from frozen Russian assets, the Financial Times has reported.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/m...n-the-east

Into a Real Battle: Ukrainian Bradley vs Battles Russian T90M Tank near to Avdiivka with is less then 100m away. Full Analysis by the Dradley Driver and his Gunner, they both learnt fighting from games they trained playing video games...
https://youtu.be/khXMVPpxdxg?si=_YAM5req06Sr9TGJ

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Into a Real Battle: Ukrainian Bradley vs Battles Russian T90M Tank near to Avdiivka with is less then 100m away. Full Analysis by the Dradley Driver and his Gunner, they both learnt fighting from games they trained playing video games...
https://youtu.be/khXMVPpxdxg?si=_YAM5req06Sr9TGJ

Latest news: "Ukrainian drones damage Russian oil refineries in second day of attacks"

No such thing, (No!!!), is real battle with Russian on their newer tank T90M.

A Full Analysis by the Dradley Driver and his Gunner, they both learnt fighting from games they trained playing video games... 
https://youtu.be/khXMVPpxdxg?si=4ze5o4CC11YtCizM

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Soldiers of Freedom of Russia Legion fighting on the side of Ukraine liberated a part of village of Tyotkino in Kursk region. Tyotkino is a village in Glushkovsky district of the Kursk region of Russia. On March 12, it was reported that Russian volunteers from Ukraine had broken through Russian border. Operation also involves soldiers from Sibir Battalion, which includes Yakuts, Buryats, & Russian Volunteer Corps.

Tyotkino had become a “gray zone.” Village Is not controlled by anyone at all: neither the Russian authorities nor the volunteers. It has now moved deeper into Russia in fact, we are carrying out the same militarization of the border regions that we talked about earlier, & fighting, I repeat, subsides & then resumes and not only in Tyotkino itself but also in the neighboring settlements. In general, there is a fairly wide front where we operate. But we are not standing still, we are constantly moving around to inflict unexpected blows on Putin’s military. This is a guerrilla tactic.

Oleksii Baranovsky also noted that there are enough forces to solve the most ambitious and daring tasks.
The Sibir Battalion noted that Russian Federation did not expect an attack, their soldiers hastily left their command post at the border and fled.

Andriy Yusov, a representative of the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine, noted that Russian volunteer units on the territory of the Russian Federation act as “independent structures and organizations.”

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Tyotkino had become a “gray zone.” Village Is not controlled by anyone at all: neither the Russian authorities nor the volunteers. It has now moved deeper into Russia in fact, we are carrying out the same militarization of the border regions that we talked about earlier, & fighting, I repeat, subsides & then resumes and not only in Tyotkino itself but also in the neighboring settlements. In general, there is a fairly wide front where we operate. But we are not standing still, we are constantly moving around to inflict unexpected blows on Putin’s military. This is a guerrilla tactic.

Oleksii Baranovsky also noted that there are enough forces to solve the most ambitious and daring tasks.
The Sibir Battalion noted that Russian Federation did not expect an attack, their soldiers hastily left their command post at the border and fled.

Andriy Yusov, a representative of the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine, noted that Russian volunteer units on the territory of the Russian Federation act as “independent structures and organizations.”

Soldiers of Freedom of Russia Legion fighting on the side of Ukraine liberated a part of village of Tyotkino in Kursk region. Tyotkino is a village in Glushkovsky district of the Kursk region of Russia. On March 12, it was reported that Russian volunteers from Ukraine had broken through Russian border. Operation also involves soldiers from Sibir Battalion, which includes Yakuts, Buryats, & Russian Volunteer Corps.
https://mil.in.ua/en/news/the-freedom-of...sk-region/

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EU is using €27bn in profit from frozen Russian assets for Ukraine. Officials could put forward proposal b4 meeting of prime ministers in Brussels.
a potential €27bn in profit generated over 4-yrs by Russian state assets frozen in Europe to help fund the war effort in Ukraine. European Commission are poised to believe is a legally robust proposal to be considered by member states, b4 meet of prime ministers in Brussels next Thursday.

About $300bn belong to Russian central bank has frozen in west, (largely foreign currency,) gold & govt bonds. About 70% are held in the Belgian central securities depository Euroclear, holding the equivalent of €190bn.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/m...ts-ukraine

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European Council is reviewing on next concrete steps directing extraordinary revenues from Russia’s immobilised assets for benefits of Ukraine. It is expected that some of the money will be retained in EU as part of a defence fund against expected Russian legal retaliation in the long term.

Any agreement will put pressure on the British govt to follow suit. Russian central bank said, £26bn in UK, foreign secretary, David Cameron, has joined the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, in calling for money to be seized and handed to Kyiv.

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Freedom of Russia Legion has stated that residents of Russia’s Belgorod and Kursk oblasts, in which it is currently conducting combat operations, have begun to evacuate from dangerous areas, with a total of 7,600 vehicles leaving these regions overnight.

Since the announcement of the humanitarian corridor for the evacuation of civilians from Russia’s Belgorod and Kursk oblasts, as of 07:00 Moscow time, more than 7,000 civilian cars belonging to residents of Belgorod city and  Belgorod Oblast as a whole have used it... Also, more than 600 additional civilian vehicles evacuated the city of Kursk via the corridor..."

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Fatal Ukrainian strikes rock Russia as vote cements Putin’s grip. 2 people were killed & an oil facility in Russia was set ablaze by bombardments on the second day of presidential polls. Putin vowed to win and response to the assaults and accused Ukraine of disrupting his bid for another 6-year mandate

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Russian Navy Limit it Black Sea Operations to 'Preserve Fleet': UK.

Russia's Black Sea Fleet is curtailing its operations around the annexed Crimean Peninsula, according to a new assessment, following a run of deeply embarrassing Ukrainian strikes on Moscow's key assets in the region. Russian Navy has highly likely resorted to limiting its operations to the eastern Black Sea as its losses mount.
https://www.newsweek.com/russia-navy-bla...ns-1880767

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‘Climate of fear’: UN accuses Russia of abuses in occupied Ukraine. In its first in-depth report on the situation in occupied Ukraine, UN says it found evidence of intimidation, arbitrary detention and torture.

Russia has tortured and arbitrarily detained people in the parts of eastern Ukraine it occupies, creating a “climate of fear” and suppressing Ukrainian identity, according to the United Nations.

The UN’s Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine (HRMMU) was denied entry to Russian-occupied Ukraine and based its report on remote and in-person interviews with more than 2,300 witnesses and victims.

Since launching its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Moscow has seized large tracts of southern and eastern Ukraine and currently occupies just over 17 percent of the country.
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/3/21...ed-ukraine

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Twelve Ukrainian pilots return, but F-16 delivery falls short

Reports from U.S. outlets surfaced earlier this March, revealing plans to ship first six F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine by summer. Training for twelve Ukrainian pilots, slated for completion by summer this year, is currently ongoing in the countries of Denmark, U.S & Britain.

According to several military analysts, the ambiguity surrounding F-16 jets’ delivery schedule is primarily hinged on Ukrainian pilots’ readiness. 

Many questions remain unanswered, such as the number of planes each allied country will dispatch, the speed of pilot training, and how Ukraine could muster sufficient manpower for proper aircraft maintenance. Radical brevity defines the training of these pilots, with a curriculum typically spanning several years condensed into mere months.
https://bulgarianmilitary.com/amp/2024/0...lls-short/

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Ukraine's capital Kyiv has experienced one of the largest Russian strikes on the city in weeks, with city officials stating that at least 17 people were injured after Russia launched a wave of missiles, including two Kinzhal hypersonic missiles, on Kyiv. It was the first such attack on the capital in 44 days.

https://www.ft.com/content/98f15b60-bc4d...dde122ac0c

Hungarian Prime Minister Orban is the first in Euro to congratulates Putin on reelection, state media reports. He congratulated Russian President Putin on his reelection, state news agency MTI reported Thursday. He wrote in a letter cooperation between Hungary and Russia was "based on mutual respect

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Twelve Ukrainian pilots return, but F-16 delivery falls short

Reports from U.S. outlets surfaced earlier this March, revealing plans to ship first six F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine by summer. Training for twelve Ukrainian pilots, slated for completion by summer this year, is currently ongoing in the countries of Denmark, U.S & Britain.

According to several military analysts, the ambiguity surrounding F-16 jets’ delivery schedule is primarily hinged on Ukrainian pilots’ readiness. 

Many questions remain unanswered, such as the number of planes each allied country will dispatch speed of pilot training, & how Ukraine could muster sufficient manpower for proper aircraft maintenance. Radical brevity defines the training of these pilots, with a curriculum typically spanning several years condensed into mere months.
https://bulgarianmilitary.com/amp/2024/0...lls-short/

Ukraine news on F-16s as Kyiv's 'Top Guns' Graduate batch of Ukrainian future F-16 fighter pilots have graduated from British military flight school, putting them closer to flying U.S.-made jets that Kyiv has so long advocated for.

British Defense Ministry said on Friday, first 10 Ukrainian pilots have undertaken "intensive training" with Royal Air Force instructors had graduated from flight school will now proceed to an advanced flight training program provided by French air force. After that, the pilots will be instructed on F-16s.

This 10 pilots received basic flying, language in  training in UK will one day form first line of defense in protecting Ukraine's skies from [Russian] Putin's forces," those pilots "have received some of the best training available are now hope to join fight against Putin's illegal invasion."

"U.K. has led building Ukraine's air capabilities over last 2-yrs, aircraft will additional equipment, provide long-range cruise missiles to Ukraine," "Ukraine has been using its air force to devastating degrading Russian Black Sea Fleet severely damaging its HQs," and ships, this milestone is another step forward for Ukraine's aerial capabilities together with allies we are showing we will continue to stand by Ukraine's side." U.K. is member of Air Capability Coalition group co-led by U.S., Denmark & Netherlands togetther with Ukraini to support operate F-16s.

Denmark, the Netherlands, Norway and Belgium have between them committed around 45 F-16s to Ukraine, New York Times said is enough to form three small squadrons. Kyiv has urged Western partners to accelerate process of training & arming its "Top Guns," as Ukraine's Defense Ministry has referred to its experienced pilots.
https://www.newsweek.com/ukraine-closer-...rs-1882292

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Ukraine news on F-16s as Kyiv's 'Top Guns' Graduate batch of Ukrainian future F-16 fighter pilots have graduated from British military flight school.

Meanwhile. Ukraine says Russia preparing 100,000 troops, possibly for summer offensive push. Russia is preparing 100,000 troops who be used for a possible new offensive push in Ukraine this summer or to replenish depleted units, the commander of Ukraine's ground forces, Friday (Mar 22).

Lieutenant-General Oleksandr Pavliuk made his comments on television after recent advances by Russian troops in eastern Ukraine, sign of hardening rhetoric in Russia, the Kremlin said on Friday it now regarded itself as at war because of what it said was Western intervention on Ukraine's side.

The choice of words went beyond the "special military operation" language. Russia's defence minister said this wk. Moscow would bolster its military by adding two new armies and 30 new formations by the end of this year.

Ukraine faces a shortage of ammunition aggravated by deadlock in the US Congress over a new aid package although Kyiv hopes to have enough ammunition in April, thanks in particular to a Czech-led initiative to source artillery shells.

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Russia mourns: Flags are flying at half mast as Russia observes a day of national mourning for the 133 people who died in the assault on a concert hall near Moscow. The attack was the deadliest inside Russia for more than two decades.

ISIS video: ISIS grp known, has claimed attack released graphic footage purporting to show the incident. Footage is significant as it suggests the perpetrators had a direct link to ISIS to be able to send the video.

Putin links attack to Ukraine: Putin said the main suspects arrested planned to flee in Ukraine. Ukraine has denied any connection with the attack warned Russia could use it as a ruse to escalate its invasion.

A blow to Russia's leader: The deadly incident came barely a wk after Putin secured 5th presidential term. A large-scale terror attack is damaging to Putin who portrays himself as someone to guarantee order.

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Moscow concert hall attack: death toll raised to 137 as White House says Ukraine had ‘no involvement whatsoever’– as it happened  Russians lay flowers and light candles outside Crocus concert hall on day of mourning. This live blog is closed.

Russia is observing a nationwide day of mourning for the worst terror attack on the country’s soil in two decades. The official number of those left injured rose to 154 and Russian authorities raised the death toll to 137 people, including three children, up from an earlier estimate of 133, the Investigation Committee said. It also said 62 bodies have been identified. Hundreds of people brought flowers and other tributes to the Crocus City Hall in Krasnogorsk, outside Moscow, as local emergency workers continued to search for anyone who may have been left wounded or dead inside the severely damaged entertainment complex.

Suspects in the Crocus City Hall shooting have reportedly been brought Investigation Committee’s HQsl in Moscow.

UK’s chancellor, Jeremy Hunt, condemned the Kremlin after it appeared to seek to link Ukraine.

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Suspects in Crocus City Hall killing and shooting near to Moscow have reportedly been brought for Investigation Committee’s HQ in Moscow. 

While UK’s chancellor, Jeremy Hunt, condemned the Kremlin after it appeared to seek to link to Ukraine.

Oil rises after Ukraine strikes Russian refineries, Moscow orders output cuts to meet OPEC+ pledge.
Smoke billows after Ukraine's SBU drone strikes a refinery, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Ryazan, Ryazan Region, Russia.

Crude oil futures rose Monday as Ukrainian drone strikes real into disrupt Russian oil refining capacity at Moscow orders.
https://www.cnbc.com/2024/03/25/oil-pric...eries.html

[Tee tiong huat]

As Moscow mourns, opinion divided on Ukraine accusations. MOSCOW: On the streets of Moscow on Sunday (Mar 24), there was shock, grief and anger as Russia observed a day of national mourning after the deadliest attack in the country for two decades.

And as mourners laid flowers at tributes and lit candles in churches, there were mixed feelings over President Vladimir Putin's suggestion of a Ukrainian connection to the attack which killed more than 130 concertgoers.

"I'm still in shock," 35-year-old lawyer Ruslana Baranovskaya told AFP on a street running off the capital's famed Red Square. "It's a tragedy that crushed me mentally." Across the square - which was closed to the public - a flag was being flown at half-mast above the Kremlin.

At least 137 people, including three children, were killed when gunmen stormed the Crocus City Hall concert hall on Friday evening, before setting fire to the building.

The Islamic State militant group has claimed responsibility on multiple occasions and published a graphic video of the gunmen carrying out the attack.
https://www.channelnewsasia.com/world/ru...ed-4218576

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Ukraine war briefing: ‘Third of Russia’s Black Sea fleet sunk or crippled’

Ukraine’s navy claims it has sunk or disabled a third of all Russian warships in the Black Sea in just over two years of war. Dmytro Pletenchuk from the navy said the latest strike on Saturday night hit the Russian amphibious landing ship Kostiantyn Olshansky, which was resting in dock in Sevastopol in Russia-occupied Crimea. The ship was Ukrainian before being captured by Russia in 2014.

Pletenchuk previously announced that two other landing ships of the same type, Azov and Yamal, also were damaged in Saturday’s strike along with the Ivan Khurs intelligence ship. He said the weekend attack, using Ukraine-built Neptune missiles, also hit Sevastopol port facilities and an oil depot. 

“Our ultimate goal is complete absence of military ships of the so-called Russian Federation in the Azov and Black Sea regions,” Pletenchuk said.
Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, has replaced the secretary of Ukraine’s national security council, Oleksiy Danilov, with Oleksandr Lytvynenko, 51, head of the foreign intelligence service. Danilov had been secretary of the council since October 2019. Zelenskiy said Danilov was being transferred to new duties, with details to be made public later. 

“The strengthening of Ukraine and the renewal of our state system in all sectors will continue.”
Ukraine has staged further air attacks on Belgorod, just over the border inside Russia. 

The regional governor, Vyacheslav Gladkov, reported damage on the ground and claimed air defence engaged 18 incoming targets.

Nato is considering shooting down Russian missiles that stray too close to its borders, Poland’s deputy foreign minister, Andrzej Szejna, has told Polish media outlet RMF24. 

“[Russia] knew that if the missile moved further into Poland, it would be shot down. There would be a counterattack.” Poland’s armed forces said Russia violated Poland’s airspace on Sunday morning with a cruise missile launched at targets in western Ukraine.

Ukraine’s govt is flooding money into its defence industry, budgeting nearly $1.4bn in 2024 to develop weapons at home – 20 times more than before Russia’s full-scale invasion, the Associated Press has reported. 

A huge portion of weapons are being bought from privately owned factories sprouting up across the country, such as a mortar factory in western Ukraine making roughly 20,000 shells a month. To help with labour shortages, the govt has exempted defence industry workers from military service.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/m...r-crippled

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CNN news.
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko appears to have cast doubt on Russia’s claims that Ukraine was involved in the brutal attack at a Moscow concert hall last week.

ISIS claimed responsibility for the massacre, which killed at least 139 people, and released graphic footage of the incident, but Russian President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly suggested, without evidence, that Ukraine had helped orchestrate it.

Putin on Saturday claimed that a “window” had been prepared for the attackers to escape to Ukraine, which Kyiv has denied.

But Lukashenko, one of Putin’s most loyal allies, on Tuesday appeared to contradict the Kremlin’s claims, saying that the attackers initially intended to enter Belarus rather than Ukraine.

“They could not enter Belarus. Their handlers… knew that it would be a very bad idea to try to enter Belarus, because Belarus immediately reinforced security measures,” Lukashenko said, according to Belarusian news agency Belta.
https://www.cnn.com/2024/03/26/europe/lu...index.html

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Ukrainian Ammo Plant Makes 20,000 Shell Casings, Aims for 100,000 a Month - Defense Express

Close look into Ukraine's defense industry: how much of production is delegated to private contractors and what obstacles arise
Interesting details about the Ukrainian defense industry can be found in a new article from Associated Press. The reporters walked the rooms of a reopened mortar plant which had to flee the southeastern part of the country, now occupied by russian invasion forces.

Forced to relocate to the safer western areas, the Melitopol Plant of Motor Tractor Spare Parts (MZAtZ) LLC has transitioned its focus to the production of defense items.

Read more: South Korea Has 3.4 Million 105mm Artillery Shells, Everyone Would Benefit if Some Went to Ukraine

According to the owner of the factory, Anatolii Kuzmin, the enterprise has revamped its facilities to churn out 20,000 casings for artillery and mortar rounds monthly, with aspirations to escalate production to 100,000 casings per month. Additionally, the company plans to diversify its portfolio by venturing into the manufacture of engines and warheads for drones.

One notable aspect highlighted in the article is that the ammunition cases produced by MZAtZ are shipped to neighboring countries to be filled with explosives before going back into Ukraine. Kuzmin said he would like to find a production partner to help him establish an explosives plant domestically.
https://en.defence-ua.com/industries/ukr...-9967.html

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A Polish brigadier general was one of those died as a result of a Russian Iskander missile strike on the Chasov Yar. And just an hour ago, Polish social networks started publishing them.

According to Polish media news, Brigadier General Adam Marczak died unexpectedly due to "unexplained natural causes."

So NATO is already inside Ukraine and many high ranking NATO officers and soldiers have been killed, this is news, 1st time.
https://t.me/vicktop55/23183?single